FEMALE FASHIONS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 629, 24 June 1876, Page 3

FEMALE FASHIONS.

{Pall Mall Gazette.) One of the most pleasing novelties of what are termed “ female fashions ” that has been introduced for many years has lately, it is stated, been “brought into mode by some of our first dressmakers andadopted by Parisian elegantes.” It consists of a deerskin bodice clinging closely to the body, and made in the same way as an ordinary bodice. It is dyed the same shade as the dress, and the sleeves are made of ‘ ‘ faille with deerskin paremeuts.” The more costly bodices of this description are embroidered with silver. It is not surprising that ladies, who must have suffered intensely from cold, owing to the deficiency of their garments, should have taken to clothing themselves in the skins of animals of the chase, after the fashion of their ancestresses; and if these deerskin bodices are made ample enough to cover their throats, the cost of embroidering them with silver will no doubt be saved in doctor’s bills. It will, however, be a graceful act of condescension on their part if, while utilising the beasts of the field for ornamental purposes, they will take the opportunity of sparing the birds of the air. A lady with a deer-sHu thrown over her shoulders may dispense with a cock robin in her hat. The body of the deer may be cooked and eaten, and the appropriation of its skin is under these circumstances excusable ; but nobody eats cock-robins, whose harralessness, moreover, renders their destruction uncalled for. Woman should direct her attention to beasts and fourfooted animals rather than to birds. By using rats or mice, for instance, as a head-dress she will assist in extirpating disagreeable vermin, and confer a real boon on society. ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN POLICY IN ASIA. (Pall Mall Gazette.') An Austrian officer, Captain Julius Debelak, who has recently visited Persia and other countries in Asia, has published the result of his experiences in a pamphlet at Vienna After discussing the military and political ■ forces at the disposal of Russia and England respectively in Central Asia, he comes to the conclusion that “there can be no doubt as to the final result of a conflict between these two (States. . . . England is powerless to foil Russia’s designs, to retard her progress, or to compel her to stop by force of arms.” The last war in Afghanistan, says Captain Debelak, has shaken the far h of the Asiatic nations in the military power of England, while the career of Russia in Central Asia has been unbroken by a single defeat, and, after passively looking on while Russia was advancing towards India, the English are only now, when it is too late, waking to the consciousness that their Indian possessions are in danger. “ Moreover, England, though endowed with the highest qualities of a civilised nation, has proved in capable of winning the attachment of the inferior races under her rule ; and in this respect Russia has been singularly successful.” The author also believes that the military qualities of the Afghans and Sikhs have been much exaggerated, and that even if England had Afghanistan and Kashgar for allies, she would still not be able to avert the dangers which threaten her rule in India ; besides which there is little sympathy in those countries for England, and they have probably already been gained over to Russia by the circumspection and activity of

her agents. He does not think that Russia will attempt an attack on India from the worth-east, as the passes on that side present almost insurmountable difficulties to the passage of an army ; but she will be able to send through them agents from Kashgar to support her operations in the north-west by stirring up au insurrection in the disaffected districts of Northern India. The great moral influence exercised by Russia in Central Asia, proceeds Captain Debalak, is shown by the fact that throughout the immense territory between the Caspian and the island of Saghalien there are not more than 60,800 Russian regulars, with 32,500 horses and 112 guns, 30,000 local troops, [and 26,000 reserves. It is to be observed, however, that the above troops are chiefly furnished by the army of the Caucasus—an army hardened by many years’ campaigning, trained in modern warfare, and equipped with arras of the most recent patterns, which is ready at any moment to descend into the Asiatic steppes. “ The discipline, bravery, and excellent training of these troops paralyze Turkey, make Persia the obedient tool of Russia, and create at Calcutta a feeling of disquiet and anxiety which is daily growing more intense.” The Caucasian army consists of 178,500 infantry, 41,000 cavalry, and 408 guns, with 5000 militia. They are armed with the Berdan breechloader, and the guns are 3,4, and 9 pounders, also loading at the breech. A detachment of this army could easily be despatched, from Astrakhan to Astrabad, on the Caspian, and thence by the valley of the Attrek to Merv, which is a distance of only twenty days’ march, through a fertile country, affording abundant supplies for an army of from 30,000 to 40,000 men. A railway, moreover, is projected between Erivan, on the Russo-Persian frontier, and Bender-Abbas, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, which would be of such immense importance for Russia, by securing a communication for her troops between the Caucasus and the Indian Ocean, that there can be little doubt the Russian Government, with the energy it displays in all its proceedings in Central Asia, will exert itself to the utmost to construct it. Under these circumstances, Captain Debelak thinks that England would make a great blunder if she were to carry out her threat of marching on Herat in case the Russians should occupy Merv. “ If, he says, “we take the native troops at 100,000 fighting men, which is the highest estimate, the total force at the disposalof England, including the British troops will be 130,000. ... Of these 80,000 at least must be left to take care of the 70,000 square miles of territory which England possesses in India. This will leave 50,000 for the army of operations, the greater portion of which, consisting of natives, would be of very doubtful value against such an enemy as Russia ; and 10,000 men of this army would, moreover, have to be detached for the purpose of keeping up the communications ou the long line between Herat and the Bolan Pass. Russia, on the other hand, supposing her to be in possession of Merv, and to have secured her communications with thepCaspian, could, thanks to the fertility of the Attrek valley, the oasis of Merv, and the north-western districts of Afghanistan, concentrate an army of 100,000 trained soldiers between Merv and Herat, which are only ten days’ march from each other. It is hardly possible to believe that an English army of 40,000 men, composed for the moat part of native troops, could defeat such a force ; but even if it did, the Russians would simply fall back upon Merv and await reinforcements there ; while, if the English were beaten, they would probably be annihilated by the Afghans before they could reach the Indian frontier, as Elphinstone’s army was in 1842, to say nothing of the dangers of a second mutiny breaking out iu India itself at the news of the Russian victory. . . . Russia, in a word, would risk nothing; England, everything.”